Arthur and Teddy Are Coming Out: The uplifting, feel-good read of 2023

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The ending was extremely rushed, and Teddy’s romance was so cheesy and predictable that I actually found it off-putting rather than romantic. Gentle, honest and beautifully authentic’ Julietta Henderson, author of The Funny Thing About Norman Foreman The book is completely unique in a genre that can often feel repetitive. It features a very clever split narrative. It jumps between Arthur, a 79 year old grandfather who has just come out to his family, and his grandson Teddy, who is also gay and struggling to find his place in the World. In this genre, you would most often see the two love interests sharing the narrative. Having grandfather and grandson sharing the spotlight instead, this book has torn up the rulebook completely. It was a brave decision to stray away from something so familiar, and in my opinion, it works really well. What really makes the book shine though, is the bond between Teddy and Arthur. They really helped each other grow as characters and into their own identities as the book went along. You often see the male family members as antagonists in this genre, but that is absolutely not the case here. I'd love to have read something like this when I was younger and finding myself. This is a fantastic debut and deserves a lot of success. Sometimes, I simply don't know where to start when writing a review. "Arthur and Teddy are Coming Out" is a book that makes you feel a lot of things. Don't get me wrong, I loved the book, it's just that the story is sad, but also endearing and, at the same time, it makes you wonder why some people can't accept others the way they are.

The feel-good read of 2023. Perfect for fans of Mike Gayle, Beth O’Leary and Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper.Covering around a year of their lives, it's full of interesting twists, characters that really pull you in, and a brilliantly crafted plot. I found myself gasping more than once, laughing at some parts and When 79-year-old Arthur Edwards gathers his family together to share some important news, no one is prepared for the bombshell he drops: he’s gay, and after a lifetime in the closet, he’s finally ready to come out. A book of two halves. Arthur's story is intensely feelgood in a Matt Cain sort of way, with an octogenarian embracing who he is and getting over the traumas of a lifetime of homophobia. It's perhaps a bit one-note, an exceedingly bright and cheery note where everything goes super well, but given the amount of My Policeman type gay tragedy lit out there, many will embrace this rebalancing of the scales, not to mention the welcome focus on a much older man. His life-enhancing relationship with his wife is a terrific element. Covering around a year of their lives, it's full of interesting twists, characters that really pull you in, and a brilliantly crafted plot. I found myself gasping more than once, laughing at some parts and feeling emotional during others. This story is hard to put down once you get going. It's also perfectly paced - I didn't feel bored at all while reading it, and every part seemed to move the story forward.

Then there's Elisabeth, who comes across like a caricature villain rather than a daughter who is struggling to deal with her father's news. I write this as someone whose own wife was outed by a family member and is still dealing with transphobic views within the family, so I am not against this kind of representation. But it is handled so poorly in this story that I simply cannot continue reading.There are a lot of characters in the book, both in the family and outside, and some of them don't really become more than a name due to this (like Teddy's sisters, who it is hard to tell the difference between). Similarly, with a lot going on in the plot and the need for everything to feel resolved due to the necessary happy ending of the genre, the ending is quite rushed and a lot of things suddenly happen with time jumps that don't quite feel fully realised. Teddy in particular gets quite a confused ending where it feels like the book just ran out of space. I liked Teddy's eventual romance plot, but again, I felt like the payoff was rushed and didn't quite give enough space to a narrative that is familiar to a lot of queer people. I don't tend to read this kind of genre much, unless it features queer characters and might be doing something interesting, so the writing style was also not quite for me, with some forced, cheesy dialogue, but I imagine some fans of the genre will probably enjoy that more. That’s what I mean when I say that this book makes you feel a lot of things. It makes you think and wonder, it makes you sad, happy, maybe even angry at times, but that rollercoaster of emotions is worth it. quote The characters are brilliant in this story. I adored Arthur - I can really imagine him being real. He provided some really poignant and emotional moments for the book, particularly the parts highlighting his past, as well as his constant love and support for Teddy and his family. I enjoyed his relationship with Madeleine too - she is such a strong lady, and the kind of ally we all need. I can't think of any other story I've read with a coming out story for a character of his age, but it's one that needed to be told. Thank you so much @harper_reach for this ARC of Arthur and Teddy are Coming Out in exchange for an honest review. It's a very easy read, even though there are some difficult topics. I'll mention the trigger warnings below if you want to know. I did notice that at times the story went really fast, and certain things are skipped, which I thought could have been a bit better. And other times, I had the feeling some parts could have been wrapped up a bit sooner.

To me, “Arthur and Teddy are Coming Out” is marketed as this lighthearted, heartwarming little book about a grandpa and a grandson both coming out to their family members as being gay. I honestly don’t think this book was either heartwarming nor lighthearted in the way that the author aimed for. When 79-year-old Arthur Edwards gathers his family together to share that he's gay, and after a lifetime in the closet, he's finally ready to come out. Arthur and Teddy have always been close, and now they must navigate first loves, heartbreak, and finding their place in their community. But can they – and their family – learn to accept who they truly are? The Top 25 Christmas Cookbooks for 2023: A Smorgasbord of Inspiration for a Happy Foodie This Christmas Teddy was my least fav character – he spends the entire book whinging about the silver spoon he has been given, yet literally every time he faces any sniff of hardship, he runs to others to fix his shit. I honestly don’t have enough words to describe how deeply problematic his romantic arc was, so I will just say that the three boys were all as horribly gaslighty as each other and they all deserve each other.year-old Arthur Edwards has had to live his whole life a lie, but he’s decided that it’s time to change that fact. He invites his family over to tell them the news… he’s gay. Can his family handle the revelation? Will his friends accept him now he’s out of the closet? Coming out is a unique experience for every queer person. It was an all-consuming fear that ruined my teenage years, until I told my family at 20. I was able to channel some of my own emotions into Teddy’s story, but Arthur’s allowed me the chance to think about the sacrifices older members of our community made when simply being who they are was illegal. Now Arthur has the chance to be that person. I hope Arthur and Teddy inspire people both young and old to live their best lives. It’s never too late to be you! Super-cute, super-accessible, and suffused in the cheering truth that there’s no age limit to finding love and living free, Ryan Love’s Arthur and Teddy are Coming Out tells a heart-warming story of a grandfather and grandson who decide to come out. While it doesn’t shirk from presenting homophobia at its most shattering, this is, above all, a charming feel-good novel that brims with family drama and the warm-hearted glow of following your heart. In fact, through its easy-to-read, relatable style and loveable lead characters, this story wears its heart loud and proud on its sleeve. Arthur and Teddy have always been close, and now they must navigate first loves, heartbreak, and finding their place in their community. But can they – and their family – learn to accept who they truly are? My opinion I’m not embarrassed to admit, that Arthur and Teddy Are Coming Out by Ryan Love had me in tears on more than one occasion. Don’t worry, happy tears all around. Prepare yourself for a cosy and uplifting journey of self-acceptance and a new fictional grandad you’ll fall in love with from the very first chapter…

It is slightly on the cheesy side, but that is exactly what the intention is. It's hard hitting and thoughtful in all the right places and then cosy and heart warming where it needs to be. It is definitely reminiscent of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain, a book which I also loved. Arthur’s grandson Teddy also has a secret… the same secret in fact. But is he ready to take the same step as his grandad, or is one bombshell in the family enough? This story had so much potential that I want to cry because I have to DNF it. Honestly, I expected a sweet, funny, and meaningful story about this guy and his grandpa navigating coming out together and the intergenerational support and respect that the queer community desperately needs more of. The title already says it: Arthur and Teddy are coming out. Arthur is Teddy’s grandad, and after 50 years of marriage with his wife, Teddy’s grandma, he’s finally ready to tell the world he’s gay. Well, to tell his family, but soon everyone will know.Sometimes, I simply don’t know where to start when writing a review. “Arthur and Teddy are Coming Out” is a book that makes you feel a lot of things. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the book, it’s just that the story is sad, but also endearing and, at the same time, it makes you wonder why some people can’t accept others the way they are. The second thing, if you’re still here reading this review, was about Elizabeth, Teddy’s mother and Arthur’s daughter. Both times someone comes out to her, she manages to make it so totally about herself it’s almost impressive. She accuses Arthur of ruining their lives, and cuts him off almost completely. She outs him to the entire town shouting about it in the convenience store! And Arthur, much more nice than I would be about it, is willing just to wait for her to come around and forgive him! Like, sorry, but Elizabeth should be on her knees begging for Arthur’s forgiveness. Double coming out story with a grandfather and grandson. Grandfather Arthur's wife knew all along he was gay, she also wanted to get married to escape pressure to marry someone horrible, so they made the marriage work and she's completely supportive of his desire to come out at 79. Along with his coming-out journey (which inexplicably takes place mostly in the national media) there's also his grandson Teddy who ends up in a love triangle with his best friend and boyfriend. Alongside this depth there’s a lightness of touch too as Ryan Love has his characters create memories through simple moments and pleasures, as well as through the larger events, making the narrative feel familiar and real. In Arthur and Teddy are Coming Out we learn that life is made of these quiet, ordinary moments just as much as the dramatic occasions. Ryan Love exemplifies how bravery and contentment are possible for everyone, but that we might just need to make the effort to find happiness for ourselves. This could have been such a fun little book in better hands, but as is, I'm selling my copy and crying into my pillow about it instead. Ugh, nothing gets me saltier than lost potential.